Quilting frame



July 11, 1939. T. D. McCALL El AL QUILTING FRAME Filed July 26, 1938 .IL'DJIIOMZ .Hda/JIIJWOCMQ.

amwwgk Patented July 11, 1939 umrsosrarss PATENT OFFICE QUILTING FRAME Thaddeus D. McCall and Ada May McCall, Imperial, Calif.

Application July 26, 1938, Serial No. 221,433

11 Claims. This invention, relates to improvements in said adaptation to a quilting frame and to a table..

With particular reference to the quilting frame. the main purpose to be achieved is the insurance of a firm support for the material to be quilted. It is desirable and necessary that the quilt foundai tion shall run true and remain true during the v entire quilting operation so as to avoid-any material distortion of the pattern. With this preamble in mind the objects of r the invention-are as follows:

First, to provide a work support of the moreor less commonly known knock-downtype, comprising structural principles which'are equally well adaptable to the quilting frame and :table, herein shown as two modes of carrying out the semi-circular recesses 8, 9 (Fig. 2) which when invention.

Second, to provide a hinge foreach of the above adaptations of the invention, which insures Third, to provide a hinge of the foregoing character which will keep the respective leg from turning when the clamp members arerseparated Ordinarily this wing nut is conveniently placed on 39 to loosen their hold upon the quilt rods.

Fourth, to provide a novel leg pivot which in Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Reference is first made to the adaptation of the invention as a quilting frame. This frame is generally designated I in each of Figs. 1 to 5. 5 It, comprises a pair of end frame members 2,- 3, and inasmuch as theseare almost identical in construction, the initial description is confined to the nearest frame member 2. All parts which are-identical in the members 2, 3 are designated 10 with corresponding reference numerals.

'I'heend frame member 2 consists of a pair of clamp members 4, 5 which are provided with serrations 6 along their confronting surfaces.

These serrations may extend full length of the 5 ably occupies an opening in the companion i.

At eachend the members 4, 5 have matching brought together by the closure of the members produce a cylindrical hole in which one end of the respective quilt rod Ill is seated. There are 25 two quilt rods and each is designated 10.

Abore l l which is common to the confronting clampmembers 4, 5, contains a bolt l2 which has a wing nut 13 screwed onto its threaded end.

top of the uppermost clamp member 4, the head l4 of the bolt being underneath of the clamp member 5. A counter-bore l5 provides a recess Other objects and-advantages will appear in; the following specificatiom-reference being had to the accompanying drawing,.in which:-

Figure l is a perspectiverview of the improved" 7 matching slot- I8 which is positioned directly bequilting frame,

Figure 2 is an elevation,

member in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view'taken' on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the clamp members partly open.

aportion being shown in section, of the hinge of the nearest end frame of the clamp member 5 (Figs. 1 and 3). A rivet 20 is so driven across the member 5 as to prevent for a spring l6 which separates the clamp members whenthe wing nut I3 is unscrewed. There is a recess ll adjacent to the extremity of the member 4 and the companion 5 has a neath the recess and opens at 19 at the extremity 4 splitting of the Wood of which the quilting frame is commonly made because of the weakening of the member 4 by reason of the presence of the Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the V line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation similar to Fig.2;

a portion being shown in section, of. the hinge 0f the farthest end frame member in Fig. 1.

' Figure 6 is a perspective view of a knock-down table made in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Figure 7 is an inverted plan view of one of the end frame members of the table.

I recess I1. On the same principle a bolt or rivet 45 2| prevents splitting of the clamp member 5 adjacent to the slot 18.

.- hole in this web and the web l4 rests against it as shown.

Enlargements 25 of the side plates 22 provide 55 ferrules 32.

the knuckles for a hinge pin 26. This hinge pin occupies a position beneath the clamp member 5, and although it stands crosswise of the end frame member 2, yet it is centered upon the axis of the recess H. For these purposes the lmuckles 25 necessarily extend below the clamp member 5 so as to enable securing the ends of the hinge pin to the knuckles in any preferred way. According to Fig. 4 said hinge pin comprises a bolt-which is headed at one end and has a securing nut 21 on the other end.

It is to be observed that the side plates 22 of the hinge 23 have extensions 28 which protrude into the Zone of the hole 8, 9. This arrangement has the important purpose of limiting the position of the quilt rods II] in respect to the endframe member 2. Each quilt rod has an annular groove 29 (Figs. 2 and 4) adjacent to one ofits ends. This groove is so spaced in from the respective end that when said end abuts the extension 28 of the outermost side plate 22 (Fig. 1) the groove will register with the extension 28 of the innermost side plate so that said extension can be seated in the groove. The extensions 28 thus virtually bite into the quilt rods I and provide a lock for the quilt rods I!) in the nearest frame member 2 (Fig. 1). The opposite ends ofthe quilt rods IE1 are smooth, that is to say; they do not have annular grooves. Consequently, the end frame member 3 may be adjusted in along the rods as far as desired, depending upon the width of quilt in the course of manufacture.

Reverting to the hinge pin 26, this provides a pivot for the leg 30' (Fig. 2). The pin goes through the leg at such a place as to leave what is conveniently termed a lock end 3!. This lockend is adapted to occupy both the recesses H and slot I 8 (Fig. 3) when the wing nut I3- is screwed down to close the clamp members 4, (Fig. 2) and when this condition is arrived at the leg 30' is held as a perfectly rigid part of the respective frame member.

Brace means is used in conjunction with the hinge pin 26, comprising a pair of suitably made These comprise matching members (Fig. 4) which have semi-circular recesses 33 matching the cross-sectional shape of the leg 30. As the hinge pin 25 is secured in place the two half-ferrules close in upon the leg, bracing the latter against any possible splitting which might occur because of the presence of the hinge pin.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 5. As. already stated, the structure here is identical with that of the end frame 2, the only difference lying in the structure of the hinge 23. The side plates 22' are cut off at 34 by rounding or otherwise, thus. eliminating the previously described extensions 28 at this particular location. The hole consisting of the semi-circular recess 8, 9, is thus unobstructed, making it possible to slide the endv frame member 3 freely upon the quilt rods I0 when adjustments for quilt widths are required.

Mention has been made of the adaptation of the quilting frame structure toa table. This modification is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The table is generally designated 35.. Those parts of the end frame members which are identical with the frame members 2, 3, in Fig. 1, are similarly designated as before, but with the exponent letter a added. Instead of the. comparatively long quilt rods l0 being used, shorter rods 36 are employed so as to space the frame members 211., 3a, much more closely than before. In this arrangement the rods 36 can be grooved on each end as at 29 (Fig. 2), and instead of using a hinge knuckles 25a of the hinge plates.

on the frame member 30. as shown in Fig. 5 both hinges 23a can be made with the extensions 28a so as to limit and lock the rods 36 at both ends.

A cover or table top 3! of any desired material, for example ply wood, is secured to the end frame members 2a, 3a by simply reversing the bolts i2a (Fig. 8.) This places the wing nuts 13a on the underside, and in order to enable swinging the legs 38 to the closed positions (Fig.7), each leg is recessedat 39 so as to. make room for the adjacent wing nut. The legs 38 are pivoted upon hinge pins as before, but instead of the slot 18 occurring in each bottom clamp member 5a, the ends of the latter are cut off at 40 (Fig. 8). The lock end 31a, of each leg is now made cross-sectionally square to exactly fit between the The extremity of each lock end is turned into a boss 4|, and when the clamp members are closed the bosses 4! occupy the recess Ma.

The cross-sectionally square material of which a pair of the legs 38 is made, is sawed on a longitudinal angle 42 (Fig. 7) This produces tapering legs (Fig. 6) but this arrangement also enables: a close fitting of" the legs when the respec tive frame member is closed (Fig. '7). The table will'have so many uses that it is thought unnecessary toenlarge upon them other than to state that the table structure is well adapted to such purposes as camping, card-playing and the like.

Now reverting to the quilting frame I, it will be understood that a pair of ends of the quilt foundation 43- are rolled upon the respective rods H3 These rods havestrips of fabric 44 tacked to them and the ends of the quilt foundation 43 are pinned to these fabric strips. The latter are shown extended in dotted lines in Fig. 1, but inasmuch as the quilt is' supposed to be rolled upon the rods H1 at its ends it follows that the fabric strips 44 are actually in a rolled condition. Slack at the opposite ends 45 of the quilt foundation 43 is taken up by providing the frame members 2-,

3, with strips 46 to which said ends 45 are pinned.

Upon desiring to nest the legs 38 upon the frame members 2, 3, the unscrewing of the wing nuts l3 enables the springs I6 to spread the clamp members 4, 5 (Fig. 3). The wing nuts I3 must be unscrewed a sufficient distance to cause the raising of the clamp members 4 above the extremities of the lock ends 3| (Fig. 3) whereupon the legs canbe swung as indicated by dotted lines. The legs of each frame member can be sprung enough to make them lie sufficiently close to the clamp member 5 and thus make a fairly compact bundle. Upon desiring to adjust the frame memher 3 along the quilt rods it is sufficient to unscrew the wing nuts 13 only enough to release gripofthe clamp members upon the smooth ends 'of the. rods. The adjustment can then be made and there will be no danger of the legs 30 of said frame member being turned out of position; this occurring; only when the wing nuts 13 are adjusted comparatively high up. When the frame stands in its assembled condition the enclosure of the extremity of each lock end 3| in the recess I'I produces an interlock with the respective clamp member 4 that holds the lock end firmly against the base of the slot, 18 so that it is impossible for the leg 30 to turn on its pivot 26.

We claim:

1. A support comprising a pair of end frame members, a pair of rods spacing said frame members, said end frame members comprising pairs of opening and closing clampmembers, legs so i pendant from the end frame members, and means for simultaneously closing the clamp members down upon the rods and interlocking at least one of the clamp members of each pair of clamp members With the respective legs by the act of closing.

2. A support comprising a pair of end frame members, a pair of rods spacing said frame members, said members including confronting pairs of clamp members, legs pendant from the frame members and hinge means connecting said legs to similarly positioned clamp members, and means simultaneously closing the clamp members into gripping engagement with the rods and gripping portions of the legs to prevent movement on their hinges.

3. In a support, a pair of clamp members having confronting recesses of matching shapes, one of said members having a second recess, a leg,

a hinge pin by which said leg is pivoted to the' other clamp member at such a place on said leg as to define a lock end, a rod of which one end is located in line with said matching recesses, and

means to close the clamp members causing said matching recesses to grip the rod and at the same time seat a portion of the lock end in said other recess.

4. In a support, a pair of clamp members having confronting recesses of matching shape, one of said clamp members having another recess, a leg, a hinge pin by which said leg is pivoted to the other clamp member at such a place as to define a lock end on said leg, said lock end being alined with the other recess when the leg is swung into an erect position with respect to the respective clamp member, a spring tending to separate the clamp members, enabling the swinging of the leg to aline its located end with the respective recess, a rod having an end inserted in the matching recesses, and means operable to close the clamp members against the tension of the spring, thereby causing the matching recesses to grip the rod and to close the other recess in upon the extremity of the lock end.

5. In a support, a pair of clamp members each having matching recesses, one of said members having another recess, a rod having an end inserted in said matching recesses and being annularly grooved, a hinge attached to one of the clamp members, including side plates having extensions protruding into the zone of the respective recess, the end of said rod abutting one of the extensions and the other extension fitting in the groove, a leg having a hinge pin connecting it to the side plates of said hinge at such a place as to define a lock end on said leg, and means by which to close the clamp members, causing the matching recesses to firmly grip the end of the rod and causing the second recess to fit over the extremity of the lock end.

6. In a support, a-pair of clamp members having confronting recesses, one of the clamp members having another recess, the other clamp member being slotted in a position to match the other recess, a rod having an end seated in the confronting recesses, said rod having a groove, a hinge attached to one of the members including side plates having extensions protruding within the zone of the respective confronting recess, a leg having a hinge pin pivotally connected to said side plates at such a place as to define a lock end, a spring to separate the clamp members enabling the swinging of the leg to aline the lock end with said other recess and to insert the end of the rod into abutment with one of the extensions and to receive the other extension in its groove, and means to close the clamp members against the tension of the spring thus gripping the rod and socketing the extremity of the lock end in said other recess.

'7. In a support, a pair of clamp members, one of said members having a recess, a hinge on the other clamp member having a pin centered upon the axis of said recess, a leg pivoted on the pin and having a portion adapted to occupy the recess, and means to close the clamp members thereby to socket said leg portion in the recess and hold the leg immovable on its hinge pin.

8. in a support, an end frame including a pair of clamp members, one of said members having a recess, a hinge attached to the other clamp member, said hinge including a hinge pin, a leg pivoted upon the hinge by having the pin thrust through the leg, means to close the clamp members so as to socket a portion of the leg in said recess, and ferrules fitted upon the hinge pin and around the leg to brace the leg against splitting when put under pressure.

9. In a quilting frame, a pair of end frame members, said frame members comprising pairs of clamp members having confronting serrations, a pair of legs for each frame member, hinges connecting the legs to similar ones of the clamp members in each of the frame members, quilt rods to span the distance between the frame members, recesses so formed in the clamp members as to contain the ends of the quilt rods and portions of the legs when the latter are swung to erect positions, and means to draw the clamp members together, simultaneously interengaging the serrations, gripping the quilt rods and securing said portions of the legs so as to render the legs immovable.

10. A quilting frame comprising a pair of end frame members, each frame member consisting of a pair of clamp members, legs to support the end frame members, hinges carried by corresponding ones of the clamp members having hinge pins pivotally connecting the legs, the hinges of one of the end frame members including side plates, quilt rods, each quilt rod having a groove near one end, said clamp members having recesses respectively to contain the ends of the quilt rods and portions of the legs, said side plates projecting into the zone of corresponding recesses respectively to occupy the grooves and to provid abutments for the respective ends of the rods, and means by which to close the clamp members to grip the rods and render the legs immovable.

11. A support comprising end frame members, each frame member consisting of a pair of clamp members having matching recesses, one member of each pair of clamp members also having other recesses, rods having their ends fitted in the first-named recesses, a cover secured on top of the end frame members, hinges attached to corresponding ones of the clamp members, legs pivoted to the hinges, said legs being cut on a bias to enable nesting them when folded against the nethermost clamp members, and bosses on the, legs adapted to occupy said other recesses when the legs are extended.

THADDEUS D. MCCALL. ADA MAY MCCALL. 

